87 Miles: A proposal to lift a six decade old waterfowl hunting closure on stretch of Yellowstone River

<p class="MsoNormal">When the big game season ends in November, there is a guaranteed influx of goose hunters along the Yellowstone River east of Billings.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since 1958, a portion of the river has been closed to waterfowl hunting. From the junction of the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers, downstream to the Rosebud-Custer county line, the river has been off-limits to waterfowl hunting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The closure was initiated when goose and duck numbers were low in the region. A survey in 1961 found only 500-some geese. By 2013 the same section held almost 40,000 geese. Montana Fish, Wildlife &amp; Parks has proposed reopening the river section to hunting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the idea at its April 17 meeting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Brett French, Billings Gazette outdoor editor, recently wrote about the issue and is here to discuss what he found out.</p>